Khawaja Muhammad Asif
| Member of Parliament Khawaja Muhammad Asif | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Khawja Muhammad Asif, MP. | |
| Minister of Water and power | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office June 07, 2013 | |
| President | Asif Ali Zardari Mamnoon Hussain |
| Prime Minister | Nawaz Sharif |
| Senior Vice President of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office July 17, 2011 | |
| President | Nawaz Sharif |
| Parliamentarian to the Parliament of Pakistan | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 18 February 2008 | |
| President | Asif Ali Zardari Mamnoon Hussain |
| Prime Minister | Nawaz Sharif |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Khawaja Muhammad Asif August 9, 1949 Sialkot, West-Pakistan |
| Citizenship | Pakistan |
| Nationality |  Pakistan |
| Political party | Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) |
| Spouse(s) | Musarrat Asif |
| Occupation | Statesman |
Khawaja Muhammad Asif (خواجہ محمد آصف; born August 9, 1949 in Sialkot), is a Pakistani parliamentarian, banker and a politician affiliated with Pakistan Muslim League (N) who currently serves as the Federal Minister for Water and Power and also maintains the additional charge as the Defence Minister of Pakistan.Asif has also briefly served as the countries federal Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources, with additional portfolio of Sports under the premiership of Yousaf Raza Gillani.[1] Currently serving as the Minister for Water and Power, he is renowned for his oratory skills and denunciation of military intervention in the political domain.[2]
Political career
Before getting into politics, Khawaja Asif lived in the UAE for many years, and worked in the Bank of Credit and Commerce International. He quit and moved back to Pakistan in 1991, shortly before the death of his father, and took his place in politics, standing from the same constituency and city (Sialkot), and has won every election since 1991. In the 2008 general election, he was elected for the fourth term as a member of the National Assembly on PML-N's ticket. He was previously elected as an MNA for in the years 1993, 1997, 2002, 2008 and 2013. He also served as a senator during years 1991–1993. In the Nawaz Sharif cabinet of 1997–1999, Khawaja Asif held the portfolio of Chairman Privatization Commission, with the status of a federal minister.
Personal life
Khawaja Asif is the son of Khawaja Muhammad Safdar, an active politician of the Pakistan Movement. A businessman and a banker by profession, he received B.A/L.L.B degrees from University of the Punjab in 1970. Masters in Economics from LSE in 1975. He is married with a son and three daughters.
Dual nationality case
On 4, June, 2012, the Supreme Court of Pakistan admitted a petition by the registrar's office. The petition stated that Khawaja Muhammad Asif holds dual nationality, and hence, according to Pakistan's constitution, he is not eligible to hold public office in Pakistan. Along with Khawaja Muhammad Asif, the petition included names of 13 other current members of National and Provincial assemblies in Pakistan. However, the court didn't find him guilty in this regard[3] and the petitioner who leveled charges apologized and withdrew from accusations.
References
- ↑ Sajjad Malik, "24-member federal cabinet takes oath" Daily Times, April 01, 2008
- ↑ Rana Qaisar. 'Asif and Bhindara slug it out' Daily Times, August 8, 2006
- ↑ "SC resumes hearing in dual nationality case". Dawn.com. June 13, 2012. Retrieved 12 October 2012.